Method of preserving and waterproofing wood.



TJNTTED STATES T ATENT OFFICE,

JOSEPH A. DEGHUETD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF TVVO-THIRDS TO SARAH F. BEVIER, OF NYAGK, NEWV YORK.

METHOD OF PRESERVING AND WATERPROOFING WOOD Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 190E Application filed February 6, 1905. Serial No. 244,497.

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.Be it known that I, J osnrrr A. Duel-ionic, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Method of Preserving and Waterproofing WVood, of

' qualities.

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to so prepare wood that it will resist attacks of animal and vegetable life, and thereby prevent decay, and also to prevent the penetration of water, and to thereby especially adapt it for use in the manufacture of paving-blocks.

The invention consists in the novel steps of the method, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

The wood is first subjected to a heat of 212 Fahrenheit and upward Without pressure, thereby evaporating moisture and drying the wood, an artificial process. Aftersubjection to this treatmentfrom one to live hours, based upon the size and condition of the timber, the temperature is raised from 9,50 to 500 Fahrenheit and an air-pressure of from one hundred to two hundred pounds is applied, sulficicnt to prevent the loss of volatile material from the wood'by further evaporation, there by retaining in the wood such antiseptic material as may be formed bythe action of the heat upon the fluids of the wood and diffusion of resinous matter which upon cooling solidifies and hermetically seals all the pores. The result of this treatment is to thoroughly sterilize the wood, coagulate the albuminous ma terial of the sap, diffuse the resin, and harden the timber, at the same time leaving the wood in such condition that it will readily absorb the antiseptic fluid to be subsequently introduced, which on account of its viscosity is very refractory to ordinary impregnation treatment.

While the method up to this point eifectually protects the wood from internal decay, it leaves said material liable to decay from outside sources and lacking in Waterproofing To remedy this, the Wood is subjected to the following treatment: The wood is immersed in a liquid consisting of a mixture of creosote-oil, resin, animal or vegetable oil, preferably the latter, and sulfur. The percentages of resin and creosote range from ten to ninety per cent. and the other oils and sulfur from one to twenty per cent. each, according to the requirements and uses in particular cases. By creosote-oil I mean coal-tar creosote, also known under the name dead oil of tar. The addition of the resin, vegetable-oil, and sulfur is for the purpose of hardening the wood, renderingit waterproof and absolutely preventing the washing-out of antiseptic material which may have been introduced. As an example of the proportions used according to my invention ll. would mention those adapted for use in street-railroad ties, paving-blocks, &e., intended for use in northern regions of the United States or in regions having a similar climate: creosote, sixty per cent; resin, thirty per cent; cotton-seed oil, five per cent., and sulfur live per cent. It will be understood, however, that the proportions will vary considerably, according to the different uses for which the wood is intended and according to the various climatic and other conditions to which it will be exposed.

In order to cause the liquid to be properly absorbed by the wood, the liquid is heated to a temperature of from 150 to 200 Fahrenheit, care being taken not to raise the temperature to such a degree as'to injure the fiber, and a hydraulic pressure of from one hundred to four hundred pounds is placed upon the product and maintained thereon from one to six hours, these conditions being varied according to the size and nature of the timber and the amount of the antiseptic material to be injected. 1f the timber were removed under this high temperature, the liquid would be so mobile that none would be left upon the surface of the wood and any cracks that might exist in the wood would be emptied, leaving exposedsurfaces and receptacles to contain moisture-carrying germs of decay. To prevent this, the charge referred to is first cooled by the circulation of cold air through a system of pipes jacketing the cylin ders which are employed, all of which is well known in the art, the air having previously been cooled by passing through a system of water-jacketed pipes. \Vhen the temperature of the charge has been lowered to from 90 to 100 Fahrenheit, the liquid has become so viscous that it will remain adhering to the wood, filling all of the cracks and leaving the surface in a sticky condition. Experience has shown that all the preserved wood hitherto LOO produced lacks waterproof qualities, very essential in many ways and for many purposes, especially when the wood is to be used in paving-blocks. The use of cotton-seed oil and sulfur is intended to overcome this deficiency, as well as to introduce other desirable features in the product. saponifiable oils when heated with sulfur produce a compound having the properties of india-rubber, and it is this compound which gives the Waterproofing qualities and high elasticity to the wood when treated. The above compound is a true chemical combination and is not simply a chemical mixture having properties as separate and distinct from cotton-seed oil and sulfur as those of water are from the gases hydrogen and oxygen of which it is composed. Mixtures containing cotton-seed oil or sulfur. or even both together, if not chemically treated would have none of the valuable properties which this chemical combination gives to preserving liquids. It is the addition of this combination dissolved in the well-known creosote and resin preserving fluid that is particularly claimed as a new and valuable improvement in the art.

In defining my invention with greater clearness 1 would state that no claim of novelty whatsoever is made for a creosoting process per 86 nor for a creosote-resin process per 86. The preservation of wood with coal-tar creosote or dead-oil, as well as a combination of this with resin, is known to be old. Long experience with this creosoting process has brought to light many deficiencies in the products resulting from them, notably the lack of a perfectly-waterproof article, very essential to asuccessful paving-block. The aim of my process is to overcome these deficiencies. On the other hand, no claim is made for a compound resulting from heating saponifiable oil with sulfur. Such compounds have long been known as rubber substitutes and as such are extensively used in the rubber trade; but wood has never been impregnated with the same. In my invention this fat sulfur rubber-like compound forms a homogeneous solution with creosote and resin, which when hot is capable of being used for impregnating Having thus described my invention, I claim I as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The herein-described method of preserving and waterproofing wood, which consists in treating the same under the influence of heat and pressure with a homogeneous mix ture of creosote-oil, resin, saponifiable oil and sulfur, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described method of preserving and waterproofing wood. which consists in treating the same under the influence of heat and pressure, with a homogeneous mixture of creosote-oil, resin, cotton-seed oil and sulfur, substantially as described.

3. The herein-described method of preserving and waterproofing wood. which consists in first drying, sterilizing and fixing the natural antiseptic material of the wood, by heat, and pressure to protect the inner portion of the wood from decay and rendering its outer portion absorbent then protecting the outer portion from decay and waterproofing it by treating the same under the influence of heat and pressure with a homogeneous mixture of creosote-oil, resin, saponifiable oil, and sulfur, substantially as described.

4. The herein-described method of preserving and waterproofing wood, which consists, first, in heating the wood, then treating the same under the influence of heat and pressure with a homogeneous mixture of creosote-oil, resin, saponifiable oil and sulfur and then cooling the woodwhile well immersed in the reagents, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofl have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH A. DEGHUEE.

WVitnesses:

J. FRED. ACKER, J NO. M. BITTER. 

